New research suggests that the explosive deaths of the universe’s earliest stars resulting from supernovae may have created vast amounts of water, potentially making it possible for life to exist 100 million years after the Big Bang. These findings, based on simulations of short-lived, massive stars, point to water forming within dense clouds of hydrogen and oxygen released by stellar explosions, raising questions about the origin of water in the universe and its possible role in early galaxy formation. Get up.
Formation of water in early stars
according to The study was uploaded to arXiv on January 9.Simulations were conducted on early stars, known as Population III stars, whose mass was estimated to be about 200 times that of the Sun.
The researchers indicated that the dense matter expelled during the supernova created favorable conditions for the formation of water molecules, the concentrations of which are estimated to be 30 times higher than those observed in interstellar gas clouds within the galaxy.
As reported by Live ScienceThe study says this process would have introduced water as an important component of the first galaxies, potentially laying the groundwork for the evolution of life. However, direct observations of these early stars remain absent, making it challenging to verify the findings or understand their broader implications.
Challenges to existing theories
This theory challenges long-held views on how water formed in the universe. While it is widely believed that water formed through stellar processes over billions of years through the gradual combining of hydrogen and oxygen, new research suggests that water may have existed much earlier.
Questions have also been raised about why the current water level in the universe appears lower than expected. Previous hypotheses, such as a cosmic “drying” phase, have been suggested, although no definitive cause has been identified. The research team acknowledged that ionization and other astrophysical processes may have disrupted the water molecules that formed during this period.
While water is vital to life on Earth, the researchers stressed that its presence in the early universe does not necessarily indicate the possibility of extraterrestrial life. Further studies and observations are expected to provide clarity on the validity of this theory and its implications for understanding cosmic evolution.
